Shoe and arch support therefor



Nov. 205 1928. 1,691,974

w. M. HURLEY SHOE AND ARCH SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed Dec. 15. 192e /A' lll,

Patented Nov. 20, 1928i.

y, f t 1,691,974( .UNITED STATES; PATENT A 1 WILLIAM M. HURLEYmr BRoexromMAssoHUsrTs.

sHoEJANn'A-BCH SUPPORT THEREFR.'

Applcation'led December ,15, 1926. Serial No 155,;035.4r

tarsall arch support which has a resilient dev tachable connection .with the shoe.

Another object is a method of attachingV thearch-support tothe shoe. Y

A yet further object. is generally to imei prove the construction ofshoes.

Fig. 1 is a1 sideelevation, partly broken away, of a shoe embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthesupport.

Fig. 3 is a reverse view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is ,perspectivesection taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan View of an inner sole and especially illustrating the slits therein which are adapted to receive the arch support.

As here shown, the metatarsal arch sup-` port embodying the invention includes a more or less flexible member or pad 10, preferably of leather, which is of substantial length as compared to its width, and is widest at the forward end 12 and is tapered toward the rearend. Said member is flat on its bottom face 14 and is of varying thickness. The

forward end is the thickest and is more or less' dome-shaped with the apex 16 thereof in the middle of the dome and the thickness diminishes toward the edge of the member; and the edge is relatively thin. The bodyportion of the member, in the rear of the dome, is relatively, and preferably uniformly, thin along the longitudinal axis ythereof and tapers to a' thin edge at the sides.

The dome of the pad is adapted to lie under and support the metatarsal bones of the foot while the bodyportion is adapted to lie under the instep.

The pad is carried by, and overlies on all sides of a relatively narrow supporting plate 18 which preferably is of some thin springy f metal as tempered steel. The pad and plate are secured together by suitable means as rivets 20. Said plate is adapted to bey supported at the ends thereof and preferably is bowed upwardly inl the middler to providefasome- What yielding supportfor the longitudinal arch of the foot.y The ends-22 and 24 of'said plate are of reduced width, asbest illustrated rso in "Fig, 3, and arereflexed.downwardly below the body ofthe plate to form lips, by whichthe support is attached to the shoe.

The support, as thus described, is adapted tol be sold as a complete articlefofrnanufacs ture, tov be inserted in a shoe -by the purchaser orby a shoe repairer. l

In. installing the support in a, shoe`,.aypa'ir of slits 26 and 2S respectively arecutin the inner soley 30 in or adjacent to the shank pon tion and'in the linefof theV longitudinal axis Y of the sole. Anysuitable or convenient form of tool, as achise'l, maybe' used for this purpose. 'The slits may extend entirely through the inner sole and .-need notextendr intothe outer sole `32. The slitsl are inclined diago A nal'lyf downward in opposite:directionsgythe v slit' 26 "beingl inclined-` downward toward the I heel' and the slit; 28`,towarjcl;;th`ep fore part-'of the shoe.V The lips 22 and 324'of the plate 18 of the arch support are adapted to be inserted in the slits as illustrated in F ig. 1, the plate 18 being temporarily flexed for this purpose,

eoy

and the resiliency ofthe plate Vserves to hold the lips removably'in the slits Without the necessity for other attaching means. The location of the slits is such that when the sup,- port is in place in the shoe, the dome 16 is disposed beneath and' in posit-ion to support the metatarsal bones of the foot. The support is in contact with the inner sole mainly at the ends thereof, with the. middle of the support arched-above the ends, and 'thus provides a Y yielding support for the longitudinal arch of the foot; and the slits provide abutments which limit lthe extension of the plate 18. due to the flattening thereof.

I claim: y

l. As a new article of manufacture, anarch support for shoes comprising a relatively long and generally narrow pad adapted Vto overlie the inner sole of a shoe at the shank portion thereof and to extend along the line'of the longitudinal axis thereof, and having itsv greatest thickness in the forward portion thereof, and having means at the ends thereof for detachably securing the support to the inner sole. 4

2. As a new article of manufacture, an arch support for shoes comprising a relatively long and generally narrow p ad adapted to overlie the inner sole of a shoe at they shank portion 30 the shank portion of the inner sole of the shoe thereof and to extend along the line of the attached to the under face ofthe pad, in the line of the longitudinal axis thereof, and having at its ends means for detachably securing the support to the inner sole.

As a new article of manufacture, an arch support forshoes comprising a relatively long and generally narrow pad adapted to overlie the inner soleofashoe at they shank portion `thereof and to extend along ythe line of the longitudinall laxis thereof, and having its greatest thickness in the forward portion thereof, and a relatively narrowspring strip attached to the under face of the pad, in the vline of the longitudinal axis thereof, said striplhavin'g its ends reflexed below the general body thereof to provide attaching lips adapted detachably to secure thesupport to the inner sole. Y

4. A shoe having an ,arch support includingv a relatively long and narrow Apad overlying the shank portion of the inner sole of the shoe along'the longitudinal axis thereof and having means at rits ends detachably connecting it with the inner sole. f

5. A shoe having an arch support including a relativelyflong and narrow pad overlying along the longitudinal axis thereof, a resilient strip attached to the under face and extended lengthwise of the padandhaving attaching lips at its ends, and .said inner sole having slits therein in which said lips are removably.

received.

6. A shoe-having an arch support including a relatively long and narrow pad overlying the shank portion of the inner sole of the shoe along the-longitudinal axis thereof, said pad having attaching lips at itsends,.land? said' Y inner sole having slits therein ,in which said lips are removably received.

7. A shoe having an arch support including Va relatively long Vand narrow. pad overlying the shank portion of the inner sole of the shoe along the longitudinal axis thereof, and attached to the inner sole at the ends only, said pad being elevated above the inner sole inter-V mediate its ends.`

8. A shoehaving an arch support including'a relatively long and narrow pad over- Vlying the Vshank portion of the inner sole of In Ltestimony whereof, I have signedv my.`

name to this specification.

- WILLIAM M. iiuiiiiiir.V 

